Parts of the Alpine national park will now be jointly managed by the state of Victoria and the traditional owners, the Taungurung people.
Photograph: Alan Evans for the Guardian

Victoria has signed the largest native title claim in the state’s history, recognising the Taungurung as traditional owners in central Victoria and awarding a settlement of more than $33m.

The agreement was signed between the Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (TCAC) and the Victorian government on Friday, following a 15-year campaign by traditional owners and three years of settlement negotiations.

The settlement area stretches from the Campaspe river, between Rochester and Kyneton, in the west and the Ovens river near Harrietville in the east. It covers 11% of the state’s landmass.

“This settlement with the government shows that times are changing for traditional owners in Victoria and for the Taungurung people – it’s a pleasing recognition after such a long journey, which will help many Taungurung community members to heal,” the TCAC chief executive, Matt Burns, said.

Under the agreement, the 3,000 Taungurung people will have access to crown land for hunting, fishing, camping and gathering natural resources.

It also transfers the management of nine parks and reserves to Taungurung people as Aboriginal title, meaning they will be jointly managed by the state and traditional owners. They include areas of the Alpine national park as well as the Buffalo and Lake Eildon national parks.

“We must remember hat while this resolves land issues on Taungurung country, and is a massive milestone, the journey isn’t over yet,” he said. “We’re yet to see a treaty with the state to finally settle our first peoples’ dispossession of the land.”

Signing the agreement was one of the last acts of the Andrews government before going into caretaker mode on Tuesday before the 24 November election.

The Aboriginal affairs minister, Natalie Hutchins, said it was a “significant day”.

“I’m proud the Victorian government has recognised and negotiated a settlement with the rightful owners of country in central Victoria,” she said.